SBC BAY/RIVER GIRLS: Talented Margaretta favored to win 8th straight Bay title

The Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title has gone through Castalia in recent years. Margaretta has won seven straight league titles and the Polar Bears have won 44 consecutive league games and 69 out of 70. With three of its top four scorers returning and one of the area's most explosive point guards transferring in, Margaretta is the favorite to make it eight consecutive titles. The Polar Bears had a pair of battles against Willard, which had small numbers last season but returns quite a bit of talent itself. A look at the six SBC Bay Division teams in alphabetical order: Edison The Chargers were 9-14 last season, but won just one of 10 league contests. Edison's top three scorers graduated in Ivy Kluding (8.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals per game) and Jorja Byington (6.2 PPG). The Chargers return Stella Brown (7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds), Ella Booth (5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds) and Taylor Moore (4.9 points, 2.2 assists). Edison made just 23 percent of 3-pointers attempted (51 of 219) and 59 percent on free throws (224 of 379). The Chargers will rely on their experience under coach Chelsey Meagrow. "Our strengths this year include our chemistry and leadership," Meagrow said. "We have seven seniors who have played a lot of basketball together, especially at the varsity level. They understand one another and it shows in all facets of the game. They are doing a great job with leading the younger girls so far this season. "We will need to get some younger girls the reps they need at the varsity level so they are more comfortable with the faster pace." Huron The Tigers look to continue improved success under first-year coach Matt Smith. Huron was 9-13 last season with a 4-6 league record. Senior Addie LaCivita averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds and the hope is she has an even bigger year for the Tigers. Huron will have to replace do-it-all guard Jessica Brown, who put up 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals a night. Julia Brown also graduated after averaging 6.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. The Tigers bring back experienced players such as Mya Smith (5 points, 6.2 rebounds), Jenna Cox (4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds) Adelyn Van Sickle, Alayna Sullivan and Reece Hotz. "For us to be successful, we need to commit to the details like defense, discipline and execution," coach Smith said. "We don't have to be perfect, but we need to be the tougher, more aggressive team every night. If we can play at our pace, take care of the ball and win effort plays, we'll put ourselves in a position to be successful." Margaretta The Polar Bears rolled to a 20-6 record last season, winning the league championship with an unblemished 10-0 mark. Senior center Cassidy Lane, who will play collegiately at NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University, returns to lead Margaretta after averaging 10.9 points and 8.9 rebounds a contest. She will be joined by classmates Ellyse Schaefer (8.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists) and Kenadie Saylor (7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds). The Polar Bears have to replace graduated Reagan Heck, who averaged 9.2 points, 6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in just 10 games due to injury. Heck was named the SBC Bay Division Most Outstanding Performer. Margaretta will get the benefit of adding sophomore point guard Thea Wybensinger, who averaged 9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game at Port Clinton. Wybensinger will be eligible to play only the first half of the season due to OHSAA transfer rules. "We were excited when Thea walked into our building and locker room," Margaretta coach Ray Neill said. "She brings in a solid season at Port Clinton as its starting point guard. Thea fits in well and knows our girls from the AAU circuit. She's not walking into a locker room where she doesn't know anybody. She's familiar with how we play considering she played us twice last year when she was at PC." Port Clinton It may be a bit of a reset for the Redskins, who were 14-9 last season, including 4-6 in league action. Port Clinton has just 10 girls out and graduated a wealth of experience. Gone from the Redskins are Olivia Spencer (12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds), Wybensinger (transferred to Margaretta), Erie Buckley (7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds), Olivia Emerson (5.3 points, 6 rebounds), Maddie Cornell (4.3 PPG) and Christiona Fenton (4 points, 3.2 rebounds). Junior Lillian Wagner brings the most experience back for the Redskins. She played in 21 games, scoring 27 points. Classmate Alana Zibert scored 33 points across 11 games. "We will need to stay healthy this year," PC coach Kevin Belden said. "Rebounding will be another issue we must solve in order to have a successful season. "Strengths are that we will be athletic and defensively we could be solid. We have tough girls in our program and they are taking the challenge to be good defensively. As our offense grows, we will need to use our athleticism to gain advantages." Vermilion Claire Bartlome graduated after averaging 14.4 points and 5 rebounds per game last season as the Sailors finished 8-15 overall and 3-7 in the league. Senior Abby Gawry added 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 steals a night while senior Joscelyn Alvarado contributed 9.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. Sailors coach Doug Mihalic is hoping for more out of sophomore Morgan Frenk after she averaged 4.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 steals a night. "We have to convert offensively in transition," Mihalic said. "We have to limit turnovers, especially after we force a turnover. We must secure the rebound after a defensive stop and limit the silly fouls." Willard The Crimson Flashes had just eight girls on their roster last season, but went 17-8 overall, 8-2 in league play and had a chance to win a share of the league title on the last night of the regular season. Willard also played in a Division V district final, coming up short against Clear Fork. The Crimson Flashes had just one senior in Caitlyn Weaver (3.2 points, 2.6 assists) and returns a plethora of talent. Reese Bedingfield is back healthy after missing the final four games of the season. She averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. Also returning for Willard is Corrin Gettys (10.5 PPG), Camryn Wiers (8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists) and Emelia Tallman (7.1 points, 2.4 assists). Gibsonburg favored to win River Division The SBC River Division Most Outstanding Performer, Elly Evarts, returns for Gibsonburg. Evarts and Woodmore's Ariana Florio are the only two returning first-team picks in the River Division. Evarts averaged 22 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as Gibsonburg won its second straight district title. The Golden Bears went 17-1 in league play, one game ahead of Danbury's 16-2 mark. A look at the two local teams that compete in the SBC River Division: Danbury The Lakers were right there in the league chase but came up just short. Danbury bounced back to win a district title before losing to Mogadore in a Division VII regional final. The Lakers will nearly have to start from scratch after graduating all five of their starters: Thea Brickner, Maci Brown, Mia McDonald, Ella McDonald and Katelynne Bergman. Mia McDonald was the leading scorer at 9 points per game while Brown and Ella McDonald each chipped in 8.1 points a night. Brown led Danbury with 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.9 steals per contest. Back for the Lakers is Lauren Bergman, who averaged 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals a game. "We have a very small group this year, 12 girls total on the high school team, but everyone seems to be getting along very well," Danbury coach Joe Miller said. "We return three letterwinners from last year's regional runner-up team in Lauren Bergman, Charley Lenthe and Zoe Uhinck, who all played quality minutes last year. Each one of those girls have position flexibility and can play three or four different positions. Those three young ladies were also voted as captains by their teammates." St. Mary CC The Panthers won just one game last season, but second-year coach Kevin Youskievicz hopes that can help St. Mary Central Catholic improve this season. SMCC defeated New Riegel late in the season, breaking an extensive losing streak. Numbers are up for the Panthers. Last year with just nine girls, coaches had to jump in and help with practice. This season, SMCC has 15 girls out. "This year's strength is in our numbers," Youskievicz said. "We went from having nine players to 15. This allows us, the coaches, to coach and let the players play. With the increased numbers, the girls are really pushing and challenging each other every day in practice." Allison Lill was the only SMCC player to receive league honors and she returns after averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. "Alli is also a leader on the floor, willing to play any position," Youskievicz said. "At times she will play the 1 or 2 position, with her even being a 3, depending on who we have on the floor. She feels she is ready for a breakout season and it will be exciting to see her on the court." Anna Smith was second on the team with 4.5 points a contest, but graduated. Returning All-SBC Bay selections First team Reese Bedingfield, Willard; Cassidy Lane, Margaretta Second team Kenadie Saylor, Margaretta; Addie LaCivita, Huron; Camryn Wiers, Willard; Corrin Gettys, Willard Honorable mention Elyse Schaefer, Margaretta; Thea Wybensinger, Margaretta (played at Port Clinton last season); Abby Gawry, Vermilion Returning All-SBC River selections First team Elly Evarts, Gibsonburg; Ariana Florio, Woodmore Second team Megan Rombach, Calvert; Kayla Hessick, Fremont SJCC; Camille Strong, Woodmore; Kelsey Kaylor, Woodmore; Kaleigh Concepcion, Calvert Honorable mention Emma Jividen, Gibsonburg; Adelyn Dick, Old Fort; Lauren Bergman, Danbury; Rylee Markel, Lakota; Allison Lill, SMCC